CERCOSPORA LEAF SPOT OF COFFEE 
By Colin G. Welles 
Associate Professor of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, University 
of the Philippines 
ONE PLATE 
INTRODUCTION 
The leaf spot of coffee caused by Cercospora coffeicola Berke- 
ley and Cooke has not previously been reported from the 
Philippine Islands. It has not been observed in coffee planta- 
tions on the experimental farm of the College of Agriculture, 
Los Banos, Laguna, but it has caused rather severe spotting and 
ultimate defoliation of the nursery stock. 
The occurrence of the disease at present may be negligible 
in the Philippine Islands but, unless precautions are taken, it 
may spread and cause considerable trouble and no little financial 
loss to the coffee industry. 
This paper is a brief description of the disease and causal 
organism found here, and includes a short summary of related 
work in other countries. 
REVIEW OF LITERATURE 
The leaf spot under discussion is commonly known as “brown 
eye spot,”(i) “brown eyed disease,” or berry spot.” (2) These 
names are derived from the type and appearance of the disease 
in various localities. 
The disease has been reported from many of the important 
coffee-growing regions of the world, including Mexico, Cuba, 
Trinidad, (3) Porto Rico, (2) Java, Uganda, and India. (l) In 
India the fungus has been found to parasitize the leaves only, 
but in Porto Rico (2) and other places (3) the berry spot is very 
serious, usually destroying all fruits attacked. 
It is agreed by all who have worked with the causal organism, 
that the disease is due to Cercospora coffeicola Berkeley and 
Cooke. As the organism found in the Philippines compares 
accurately with the organisms previously described, no details 
will be reviewed here. 
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